RIGHT TRACK ON
Gordon Elliott-trained mare won’t be Jaded after layoff
RETURNING from a three-month break, Brighterdaysahead should retain her unbeaten record in the listed Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle in Navan tomorrow.
A five-year-old Kapgarde mare, trained for Gigginstown House Stud by Gordon Elliott, for whom Apple’s Jade proved a real star, Brighterdaysahead has won two bumpers and two hurdles and, stepping-up in trip, is expected to outclass her five rivals and prove herself on course for the mares novice at Cheltenham.
The selection won on debut on Red Mills Day at Gowran Park last February before oozing class when landing the Tattersalls Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse.
She delivered with ease on her hurdling debut at Thurles in October (when sent off 1/4 favourite) before following up with a workmanlike victory in a Grade 3 in Down Royal seeing off Banntown Girl with plenty in the tank.
Tomorrow, Jack Kennedy’s (inset) mount must overcome a break and cope with a longer trip. But she looks a bit special and is a confident choice to beat 128-rated stable-companion Mel Monroe, Annalecka and the unexposed Pastorale.
The field for the Grade 2 William Hill Boyne Hurdle includes two previous winners, Blazing Khal (last year) and Beacon Edge (2021), plus the inimitable Sire Du Berlais, fourth in this race last year before progressing to win both the
Stayers at Cheltenham and the
Liverpool Hurdle and ending his campaign with a third to Klassical Dream at Punchestown.
Both Sire Du Berlais and
Blazing Khal, who filled sixth position behind Elliott’s charge in the Stayers, are making their seasonal debut here. So they’ll improve for the run and the market might give us a guide to expectations for both.
My suggestion for tomorrow is each-way support of race-fit Ashdale Bob, runner-up to Home By The Lee in Leopardstown’s
Christmas Hurdle more than a year ago and third to Monkfish in the recent Galmoy at Gowran Park.
In the other Grade 2 action, we have a head-to-head between Closutton and Cullentra, with both yards double-represented in a five-runner affair.
And I prefer the Mullins pair, course and distance winner Minella Cocooner and Paul Townend’s choice Nick Rockett. Minella Cocooner has better hurdle form, including a Grade 1 win at Leopardstown and two runner-up efforts against The Nice Guy in top-level action at Cheltenham and Punchestown. And he was a smooth course and distance scorer last time.
But I prefer Nick Rockett, a Grade 2 winner over flights who has taken well to fences as he proved when seeing off subsequent scorer Tactical Move in Fairyhouse. He’s a stayer with a change of gears. And that might give him the edge here.